Luis Herrera (cyclist) facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Luis Alberto Herrera | ||
| Nickname | Lucho El jardinerito de Fusagasugá |
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| Born | May 4, 1961 Fusagasugá, Colombia |
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| Team information | |||
| Current team | Retired | ||
| Discipline | Road | ||
| Role | Rider | ||
| Rider type | Climbing specialist | ||
| Major wins | |||
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Luis Alberto "Lucho" Herrera Herrera, also known as "El jardinerito" (which means "the little gardener"), was born on May 4, 1961, in Fusagasugá, Colombia. He is a famous retired Colombian road racing cyclist. Lucho Herrera was a professional rider from 1985 to 1992. Before that, he had a very successful career as an amateur cyclist in Colombia.
He became well-known for his amazing climbing skills. He was the first South American to win a "Grand Tour" cycling race. These are the biggest and most important races in professional cycling.
Contents
Lucho Herrera: Early Career and Big Wins
Lucho Herrera started his journey in cycling at a young age. He first competed in the Vuelta a Colombia race in 1981. He finished 16th overall and was 3rd among the new riders.
In 1982, he won the Clásico RCN, another major stage race in Colombia. A stage race means cyclists compete over several days, with each day being a "stage." He won the Clásico RCN again in 1983. That year, he also won two stages in the Vuelta a Colombia.
His success continued in 1984. He won both the Vuelta a Colombia and the Clásico RCN. This showed he was a top rider in his home country.
Making History in the Tour de France
In 1984, Lucho Herrera made history. He won Stage 17 of the 1984 Tour de France, which ended at the famous Alpe d'Huez climb. This was a huge moment because he was the first Colombian to ever win a stage in the Tour de France. He was also the first amateur cyclist to win a stage in the race's long history.
He continued to show his strength in the Tour de France. In 1985, he won two more stages and also earned the "Mountains classification" jersey. This jersey is given to the best climber in the race.
Becoming a Grand Tour Champion
Lucho Herrera's biggest achievement came in 1987. He won the entire Vuelta a España race. This was a historic moment because he was the first South American to win a Grand Tour. Winning a Grand Tour is one of the highest honors in cycling.
He also won the "Mountains classification" in the 1987 Vuelta a España. This proved he was truly one of the best climbers in the world.
King of the Mountains: A Special Title
Lucho Herrera was known as a "climbing specialist". This means he was exceptionally good at riding uphill. He won five "King of the Mountains" jerseys across the three Grand Tours: the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia, and the Vuelta a España.
He is only the second cyclist ever to win the King of the Mountains jersey in all three Grand Tours. The first rider to achieve this was Federico Bahamontes from Spain. This shows how special Lucho's climbing talent was.
More Victories and Achievements
Besides his Grand Tour wins, Lucho Herrera also won other important races. He won the Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré twice, in 1988 and 1991. This is a tough stage race in France that helps riders prepare for the Tour de France.
He won the Vuelta a Colombia four times (1984, 1985, 1986, 1988) and the Clásico RCN four times (1982, 1983, 1984, 1986). These wins cemented his status as a national hero in Colombia.
In 1989, he won two stages and the Mountains classification in the Giro d'Italia. He also won a stage in the Giro d'Italia in 1992. His career was filled with many impressive victories, especially on the toughest mountain stages.
Grand Tour Results Overview
Here's a quick look at how Lucho Herrera finished in the overall standings of the Grand Tours during his career:
| Grand Tour | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Vuelta a España |
— | DNF | — | 1 | 20 | — | 12 | 13 | DNF |
 Giro d'Italia |
— | — | — | — | — | 18 | — | — | 8 |
| Tour de France |
27 | 7 | 22 | 5 | 6 | 19 | — | 31 | — |
| — | Did not compete in this race. |
|---|---|
| DNF | Did not finish the race. |
See also
- In Spanish: Lucho Herrera para niños
